Folding umbrella.



. C. A. WHITNEY.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

(Application .fllpdp-Dec. 29, 1899.)

We Model.) ZShoets-Shaet I.

Patented Oct. 9 I900.

Fl uventoa:

C/iarlea 06E What/Ly alien 013;?

fur: Moms E ena co. Puc'ru-uma, wumuu'rou. n, c.

No. 659,563. Patented Oct. 9, I900.

C. A. WHITNEY.

FOLDING UMBRELLA; (Application m d 29, 1899.)

alien/my a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

2% w M w v m J a Nrrs STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WHITNEY, OF STEVENSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING UQMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,563, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed December 29, 1899. Serial No- 741,964:- KNo model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Stevensville, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Umbrellas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

As is well known, the ordinary umbrella cannot be packed into a trunk, grip, or the like and cannot be reduced in length for convenience of handling and storing when not required for immediate use. Hence folding umbrellas have been devised to fulfil these conditions, and the present invention is of this character and aims to provide an um-,

brella, parasol, and analogous device. which can be quickly reduced to a compact form for storage and carrying and as expeditiously arranged for use when required, the joints being stayed and of sucha character as to withstand strain in all directions and prevented from casual separation.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to, acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and to the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily sus ceptible of modification, still the preferred,

is folded. 'Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the stick, the parts being separated.- Fig. dis ;a' longitudinal section of the joint formedbetween the sections of a rib, showing the upper section in full lines. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the joint between the rib-sections, the latter being alined. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the upper section being broken away to show the notched end of the lower section in engagement with the upper pivotfastening. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section of the stick on a-largerscale, parts being broken away. Fig. 8 isa side elevation of the joint between the rib-sections, the latter occupying a folded position. Fig. 9 isa de= tail perspective view of the parts comprising the joint between the rib-sections, said parts being separated. Fig. 10 is a plan View of thejoint. Fig. 11 is a cross-section on the line l1 ll of Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12 1210f Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a detail View of the joint formed between sections of the stick when the latter is constructed from wood. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The umbrella in its general construction comprises the stick A, notch 1, cover2, ribs B, braces 3, runner 4, andthe, usual catches for cooperation with the runner to hold the umbrella open or closed. The ribs and stick are sectional, so as to admit of reducing the length of the umbrella and folding it in a compact package, the sections of the stick being separable and the sections of the ribs foldable. The outer flange, of the notch 1 is wider than the corresponding flange of the runner 4 to admit of the brace 3 folding between the stick and the upper section of the rib.

The ribs B are composed of an upper section 5 and a lower section 6, pivotally and loosely connected by means of a link 7 in such a manner as to admit of a relative outward movement of the section 6 when folding, whereby a space is formed between the sections to receive the cover without injuriously pinching it. The ribs are of the channeled type, and their meeting end portions fit the one within the other to secure a joint of maximum strength. The upper end portion of the lower section 6 is cut awayon the outer or folded side and is notched, as shown at 8, to receive the end portions of the pivotfastening 9 when the sections 5 and 6 are alined. A notch 11 is formed in the outer side of the lower end portion of the section 5 bar 13 projecting over the joint and suppleinenting the action of the pivot-fastenings 9 and 10 in strengthening the joint when the umbrella is open. The end portions of the bars or members of the link are pivotally connected to the respective sections 5 and '6 by means of the pivot-fastenings 9 and 1.0.

The braces 3 are attached to the upper sections 5 at a point to admit 'of their folding about parallel with the stick and rib when the umbrella is closed. The pivot attach ment may be effected in any manner, either direct or by means of aclip 14. The sections when alined may be secured against displace ment by means of a slide 15, which is moved so as to embrace the lower end of the section 5 and the section 6, upon which latter it is slidable.

tions 17 and 18 are alike.

The stick A is composed of the tip 16, sections 17 18, and the handle 19, the "parts being attached by a slip-joint and suitable fastenings. The catches for the tip 16 and sec- Hence a detailed description of one will snflice. -A plu'g 201s secured to one of the parts and is grooved in a side to receive a spring-catch 21, which is secured at one end thereto. This catch is formed with a bent end 22 to pass through an opening 23 in the matching part and with a projecting part 24 to be pressed u on by the thumb or finger when it is required to dis connect the parts. Astudaextends outfrom the projecting end of the plug 20 and my crates with a groove 26 in the side of the part into which the plug is fitted to properly position the parts and insure registry of the engaging end 22 of the catch and the openin g 23.

The lower end of the section 18 is reduced or provided with a plug to enter an opening in the end of the handle, and the latter is secured by means of a pin 27-, passed through coincident openings in the parts comprising the joint. The end of the pill is'threaded and screws into a threaded opening in the side of the ferrule fitted to the end "of the handle, said ferrule being likewise held in place by the pin, the latter having 'a head to be grasped when tightening and loosening it by rotation. r

The catch 28, applied to the section 17, has oifstanding parts 29 and 30, the latter being a stop to limit the upward movement of the runner when "opening the umbrella. The

part 29 serves as a catch to hold the umbrella open and as a finger-piece to be pressed upon for operating the catch. When it is required to fold the umbrella, by moving the runner toward the peak or tip the part 29 is pressed upon to withdraw the stop 30 from out the path of the runner, when the latter will move upward. The runner is grooved to pass by the finger-piece 24 of the catch 21 in both directions. When the ribs are extended and fixed by means of the slides 15, the umbrella can be opened and closed in the usual mannor. the length of the umbrella the slides are drawn back and the sections 6 folded upward upon the sections 5 and the parts 16, 18, and 19 are detached and wrapped in with the cover, as'will be readily understood.

When the stick is constructed 'of wood, the end of one section is reduced and the conespending end of the other section is bored to receive the reduced end. A sleeve 31 overlaps and stiifens the joint. This construction is shown most clearly in Fig. 12. 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new iB- 1. In a folding umbrella, a rib comprising upper and lower sections pivoted together and having the pivoted ends extended and adapted to overlap when the sections are alined, a link jointing the sections and composed of parallel plates embracing the sides of the said sections and pivoted at their extremities thereto and a cross-bar connecting theoute'r edges of said plates midwayof their ends and adapted to lie between the rib-section's when folded and to supplement the overlapping ends of the sections to brace the joint between them when extended, and means for holding said parts rigidly connected when the rib-sectionsare inalinement, substantially as described.

2. In a folding umbrella, 'a rib comprising upper and lower channeled sections, the lower section being notched transversely in its folded side at its upper end to form parallel hcoksand the upper section similarly notched adjacent to its lowere'nd to form a transverse seat-depression, a substantially H= shoped link composed of parallel side plates embracing the sides "of the said sections and pivoted at their extremities by pins passing through the sides of the sections and adapted to be respectively engaged by said hooks and to rest in said seat-depression when the rib-sections are alin'e'd, and a cross-bar connecting the outer edges of the side plates intermediate of their ends and adapted to lie between the ribsections when folded, and a, slide adapted to embrace the link to rigidly hold the parts connected when the rib-sections are in alinein'ent, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

P CHARLES A. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

JANE H. BUCK, C. W; FORD.

However, when it is required to reduce 

